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Colm Murphy will defend his Commonwealth silver featherweight title against Kasimu Hamad Haji at the Ulster Hall on Saturday, 1 February live across BBC Sport NI.<\/b><\/p>\n
In the co-main event, John Cooney will put his Celtic super-featherweight belt on the line against Welshman Nathan Howells.<\/p>\n
The ‘Nations Fight Night’ card will feature former European cruiserweight champion Tommy McCarthy with Jack O’Neill, Charles McDonagh, Teo Alin and Kate Radomska also in action.<\/p>\n
The Belfast event will be broadcast on BBC iPlayer and the BBC Sport NI website with legendary commentator Jim Neilly calling the action.<\/p>\n
“I’m fully in camp now. There might be a wee break on Christmas day but on boxing day you can guarantee I’ll be in the gym training hard,” said Murphy, who defeated Erick Omar Lopez in November.<\/p>\n
Murphy added that fighting in the Ulster Hall is “special” and he hopes having the event streamed across BBC Sport will put more eyes on the sport.<\/p>\n
“It’s really is special, my grandad used to come here [to the Ulster Hall] a lot,” he said. <\/p>\n
“He’s not here now to see me fight but I know that he’s somewhere, very proud. <\/p>\n
“My granny over in London has never seen me fight but hopefully she’ll now have a chance to watch.”<\/p>\n
McCarthy says it is “very exciting” to be fighting at the Ulster Hall and there is “a real sense of history”.<\/p>\n
“It’s great to be in the Ulster Hall again. It’s iconic and all the greats come through here,” said the 34-year-old.<\/p>\n
After losing his European cruiserweight title to Chris Billam-Smith in 2021, McCarthy has lost three of his six bouts. <\/p>\n
However, he feels he still has what it takes to reach that level again.<\/p>\n
“I wouldn’t do it if I didn’t think I could operate at the highest level,” he said.<\/p>\n
“I had a close fight with Chris Billam-Smith, who went on to become the champion. Anyone who has beaten me has been at the top of the food chain. <\/p>\n
“I belong in that company. Over the next couple of years I’m going to get the head down and get back to where I belong.”<\/p>\n<\/div>\n